Wednesday, September 27, 2023
A Heart that Listens
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
A Touch of Kindness
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Be Merciful
Luke 6:32-36
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to
you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to
you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect
repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners,
expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to
them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great,
and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the
ungrateful and wicked. Be
merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Have you seen the movie Jesus Revolution?
If you haven’t heard of the movie Jesus Revolution, it’s based on a true story of an amazing revival that took place in California in the late 60s and early 70s. In short, a conservative preacher of a small church opened the doors and welcomed in hippies who were seeking truth.I would have been 11-14 years old at the time and
remember hearing the stories and reading the Time magazine article. Even in
Ohio the effects of the Jesus Revolution reverberated. A hand with the index
finger pointing upward and a cross beside it became the symbol for young
Christians across the country. Our church had a vibrant youth group, and it was
a time of living on fire for Jesus.
When I walked out of the movie with James, Sara,
and Eli my heart overflowed with gratitude to the Californian preacher who saw
those who were different, the hippies, as people whom God loved. Then I
wondered how often I overlook people because they are different from me.
Did you know the flower of Scotland is a thistle? In our country the thistle is considered a weed. Am I seeing weeds where God sees flowers?
In Luke 6, Jesus minced no words about who
Christians should help and care for. He says to love our enemies. I’m guessing
the preacher in California looked on the hippies as enemies or at least
outcasts, but Jesus opened his heart.
Is it easy to love the unlovable? No. Yet, Jesus
is specific. Be kind to everyone.
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Ah, Kindness
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
We All Struggle
Saturday, October 8, 2022
Show Them Love in Action
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you
has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over
all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect
unity.
Someone is always watching.
One thing I know about children: They pay attention and
listen, especially when we may not want them to. In other words, children mimic
their parents, grandparents, teachers, and anyone else they spend time with.
In September, I attended Grandparents’ Day at my
granddaughter’s school. We convened in the gym at tables covered with brown craft
paper and set up with cups of crayons. The staff served muffins, cookies, and
punch and welcomed us with smiles. My granddaughter Ella Cate loves to draw, so
this was the perfect set-up for us. We spent time together drawing dogs and
cats and chatting about school. I loved sitting with her and sharing this
special time.
At a gathering with children, I’m reminded of the many lives
being formed and influenced by adults. I can’t help but wonder what they see
and hear. As a child, I wanted to be like my second-grade teacher, Miss Mercer.
I only had her for six weeks of second grade because we moved into her school district
late in the year. She was a gentle, kind teacher who took extra time to catch
me up on phonics. I loved and admired her and still remember her sweet
personality.
As a believer and follower of Jesus, I’m aware of the traits
God wants me to show others. I am particularly alert to how I influence
children. I don’t always get it right, but I try to be a good example to my
grandkids, the children I help in my daughter’s class once a week, and any
other kids I am fortunate enough to interact with. I’m not just talking about
the little ones, I’m talking teens and tweens, too.
As adults, we have a responsibility to show compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience to the kids who depend on us
to teach them well. When children see love in action, they are more likely to show it too.
Jesus loved the children. He talked with them and showed
them love. Let’s do the same.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Saturday, June 25, 2022
Fruit not Fruits
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such
things there is no law.
The fruit of the Spirit isn’t fruits.
By the time you read this, I will have talked to a group of
moms and daughters at Woodland Lakes Christian Camp. A while back, Amy, the
director of Mother/Daughter camp asked me if I would put together a devotion to
share about the fruit of the Spirit.
As I’ve searched for the words and examples to share, I remembered
my realization that the “fruit” is not “fruits.” As a child I thought the word
was plural, like there were nine different fruits standing on their own. As an
adult, I realized I was wrong.
Now I see the fruit of the Spirit like an apple. When I
purchase an apple at the grocery store or orchard, I have one whole piece of
fruit in my hand. I bring it home and cut it into pieces. Is the apple multiple
fruits now? No it’s still one apple, just with several slices.
The fruit of the Spirit is like the apple, one fruit with
many pieces. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control are all part of the same fruit. As a follower of
Jesus, I need to nurture all aspects of the fruit of the Spirit. If I seek
peace and joy, without kindness, my fruit spoils. If I try to be good and
faithful, but lose my self-control, my fruit rots. God has given his children
this amazing gift through the Holy Spirit, and I long to embrace all the fruit
and make them a constant in my life.
God calls His children to live with all nine segments of
fruit. He knows the world needs all of these and as Christians we are the ones
to inject love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control into all aspects of our lives.
Take the challenge to actively live by the fruit of the
Spirit and share God’s gift with the world.
Saturday, April 9, 2022
Waffles or French Toast
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in
Christ God forgave you.
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.
Tim and I stopped in for breakfast at a little diner near
our home. The menu tempted me with so many choices. When a waitress stopped by
our table, we both ordered coffee, then waited for her to return. With coffee
in our cups, we placed our orders. "I would like to try the waffle with
blueberries and a scrambled egg." I don't often ask for waffles, but I
thought I'd give it a try, and with blueberries how could I go wrong. She came
back to the table, head hanging, and told me, "We are out of the mix. I'm
so sorry, what else would you like? We have French toast with
blueberries."
I smiled and ordered the French toast. As we waited on our
order, we sipped our coffee, and talked about the Reds, the book I'm working on,
and what we planned for the rest of the day. Not long after, the waitress
placed a plate of French toast and blueberries in front of me that looked
heavenly. Again, she apologized, but I stopped her. "I love French toast
and blueberries. I was getting the waffle just to try something different."
She sighed with relief and hurried to the next table.
The waitress didn't know me, yet she wanted me to enjoy my
breakfast. She had no idea French toast reminds me of my dad, who made it for
us on Saturday mornings. Even though, she didn't know me, she was kind and wanted
the best for me.
What if I passed along her caring attitude and her desire to
make my day better? That's called kindness, folks. Simply caring for the people
around me and considering their needs ahead of my own, both those I know and
those I don't. Did I mention, she was the only one working the floor, clearing
the tables, and taking orders? Yet she wore a smile and spread kindness all
over the room.
Paul penned in his letter to the Ephesian church a segment
about Christian living. One of the things he mentioned at the end, and I
believe he did that to emphasize the point, was to be compassionate and kind to
each other. As believers and followers of Jesus I want to show kindness to
others, not simply because Paul said so, but because the act of caring creates
a better environment for everyone and shares the love of Jesus.
Join me in finding ways to be kinder and more caring.
Saturday, February 5, 2022
Gracious Words
Proverbs 16:23-24
The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,
and their lips promote instruction.
Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
The purple powder puffs attracted bees.
Along the shore of Lake Erie, on a Port Clinton beach,
nodding thistle grew. Their purple heads bobbed in the breeze as bees buzzed
around them. The little winged creatures sought out the sweet nectar the
thistle offered. So content to collect the liquid from the plant, the bees
ignored me as I snapped their photo. They were intent on gathering the
ingredients to make honey, a sweet reward.
Unfortunately, in our busy lives sweetness doesn't always
abound. Have you ever said something you wished you could take back as soon as
the words left your mouth? I have. Instead of lifting someone up; I said things
that hurt. In junior high school, before I became a Christian, I remember
saying something offensive to a girl I barely knew, to this day I wish I hadn't
said anything. I not only hurt her feelings, but I carried the burden of speaking
without thinking with me. I don't even remember what I said, but I know it upset
her.
Maybe it's a good thing the pain I caused stayed with me—as
a reminder that God wants me to choose my words wisely, to run what I say
through His filter and determine if it is hurtful or kind. The lesson has stuck
with me for years.
Every person is going through something. Difficulties have
touched everyone, especially during the pandemic. Proverbs tells me gracious
and kind words sooth and heal. With February proclaimed the month of love, help
me spread love, kindness, and joy to every person. Instead of spitting negative
thoughts into the air, let honey pour from our lips.
Speak with the graciousness and spread God's love.
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Most of All be Kind
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you
has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over
all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect
unity.
Glitter, sparkle, shine, but most of all be kind.
When my kids were growing up, our home was kind of messy. We
crafted, drew, glued, and sewed. If the girls had a school project with friends,
our house was often the one where they made dioramas, science projects, and book
reports. On Valentine's Day and Christmas the cards required as much glitter as
they would hold. Little hands scattered the shiny sparkles over white glue and
made a fine mess. Sort of like the sprinkles we shook over Christmas cookies. When
I attempted to vacuum the tiny, sparkly pieces, I inevitably left some behind. It
seemed like I'd find glitter for months, after a project.
What would the world look like if we sprinkled kindness and
compassion like glitter? So much so, that the kindness stuck around and was
difficult to remove. In the third chapter of Colossians, Paul addresses the
church. A place where kindness and compassion should indeed be present. Yet, he
had to remind the very people who said they loved Jesus to be kind. I imagine
if Paul lived today, he would preach his message in homes,
workplaces, at sporting events, and in public spaces.
In a world where we can be anything, shouldn't we be kind? Considerate?
Thoughtful? And shouldn't those traits be so ingrained we don't have to think
about them. I know sometimes I don't feel kind, I get grumpy like everyone
else, but Jesus calls me to have compassion, so I need to work on that daily.
Jesus loves people. When he walked the earth, he showed
kindness. Even when he rebuked or corrected someone, he did it with love.
Sprinkle kindness like glitter, so it sticks around.
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Bee Kind
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Window to the Soul
Ephesians 1:18-19a
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you
may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his
glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great
power for us who believe.
Due to COVID-19 rules, all the spectators wore masks in
the gym.
The fifth-grade boys ran up and back, shot baskets, and defended their team. We cheered them as they played hard. Tim and I especially enjoyed the enthusiasm of one of the grandparents. She said she played ball back in the day, and I could tell she loved cheering for her grandson.
A week later in a different gym, we sat at the top, away
from most everyone. But after the game, I saw the grandma we sat near the week
before. Even though we wore our masks, I could see the smile in her eyes. She
waved and pumped her hands in the air because she saw me as a co-conspirator
and cheerleader for our team. But her eyes told the story. They shared joy,
recognition, and excitement.
In our mask wearing society, I’ve noticed peoples’ eyes
more. Some look weary and sad, some happy and smiling, while others stare into
the distance hoping for better days.
Some say the eyes are the window to the soul.
Paul prayed for the Ephesian church, that the eyes of their
heart would be enlightened to hope in Jesus. What do my eyes reflect? Hope—or
despair and sadness. As a believer in Jesus, I’m called to show the Lord to the
people around me. I pray my eyes glimmer with hope, kindness, and love, for
those are the things God asks me to carry in my heart.
Eyes express genuine feelings and reflections of the heart.
What do our eyes show others? Confidence? Contentment? Anger? Fear? Peace?
Love?
With your eyes as the window to your soul, what will you
show the folks you meet?
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
No Darkness at All
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
We Need More
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Fiction Review: The Peasant's Dream by Melanie Dickerson
Be ready to swoon. Dickerson has created a beautiful fairy tale featuring a kind-hearted young man who wants nothing more than to provide a better life for his mother and sisters. Then he meets Adela, the lovely daughter of a duke. With elements from the Cinderella story, she's woven a delightful tale filled with adventure, chance meetings, deception, and of course love. The Peasant's Dream is book 11 of the Fairy Tale Romance series. I loved the setting and the story. This book made me smile, laugh and fret. If you enjoy fairy tales, or beautiful love stories, pick up a copy of The Peasant's Dream and drift off to another world and time. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Saturday, June 13, 2020
He Hears Me When I Call
let my cry for help come to you.
Do not hide your face from me
when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
when I call, answer me quickly.
he will not despise their plea.
He hears me when I call.
Saturday, February 22, 2020
How Will I Respond?
God urges me to be kind even when I'm fired up.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Sweet or Stinky, How do you Smell?
Odors attract or repel.
Are people attracted to Jesus by your scent? Or are they repelled?
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Be Kind
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
"Have courage and be kind. When there is kindness, there is goodness." -Cinderella's mother